The record, 15 septembre 2000, vendredi 15 septembre 2000

THE The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 85 CENTS Friday, September 15, 2000 iM** *1 *¦%«**„ out Skating to Success PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Cross-country in-line skater John Derrick met supporters, including Morgaen Blair, at the East Side Mario's restaurant in Sherbrooke on Thursday.Derrick, along with fellow Sherbrooker Marc Bourbonnais, has traveled 5,000 km across the country on their in-line skates to raise money for charities that aid young people and women around the world.The two traveled from British Columbia to Montreal from June to the end of August on their ‘Skate of Promise.’ For more information on their project and the charities they've helped, visit the Web site at www.paceaction.com.Heather Keith-Ryan to return as Townshippers’ prez A'quintessential Townshipper, ’ says Gary Richards By Maurice Crossfield Potton real estate agent Heather Keith-Ryan will be taking the helm of Townshippers' when the group holds its annual general meeting tonight.“It’s going to be an exciting year," Keith-Ryan said Thursday.“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.” The experience will be a kind of deja-vous for Keith-Ryan, who held the position of president a dozen years ago.At the time, she resigned from Townshippers’ to run as an independent candidate in the provincial election, primarily in opposition to Bill 178, the law that brought the idea of “marked predominance” to the province’s sign laws.SEE KEITH-RYAN, PAGE 4 Rocket Men PERKY BEATON/SPECLAL University of Sherbrooke engineering students display their prototype rocket, already launched 2.3 kilometres into the stratosphere on two occassions.Pictured are Jérome Belisle, Simon Tetreault, Jonathan Thibault, Frédéric Villeneuve, Larry Lebel, Joel Guay, Gabriel Bourque, Christian Boissé and Eric Martel.GCourville Geriatric Cente^N /Courville Residence 'N Courville Home Care Offers you the comprehensive care and the same great attention that you would receive at the Courville Geriatric Centre.We now have the full range of HOME CARE SERVICES available.Give us a call, extension 227.• Assessment & Management Care Helping you help yourself! Personalized Care Short term / long term - Paliative / Emergencies For the best in Nursing, and where caring is a living tradition v Since 1935 “Because We Care” Rooms available 5,305 Courville Ave, Waterloo, Quebec wivw.belage.qc.ca/english (450) 539-1821 page 2 Friday, September 15, 2000 ¦¦THE — ' RECORD Crime and Punishment loto-qué Draw 2000-09-13 02 10 2Z 29 31 49 BONUS NUMBER: 46 6/6 2 5/6+ 8 5/6 337 4/6 17,829 3/6 309,254 WINNERS PRIZES 2,500,000.00 $ 79,896.50 $ 1,517.30$ 54.90 $ 10.00 $ Total sales: $ 16,341,534 Next grand prize (approx.): $ 2,000,000 K41I Draw 2000-09-13 03 06 0Z 12 21 43 BONUS NUMBER: 40 WINNERS PRIZES 6/6 0 1,000,000.00 $ 5/6+ 2 25,000.00 $ 5/6 38 500.00 $ 4/6 2,228 50.00 $ 3/6 34,233 5.00$ Total sales: $ 665,300.50 Doable Play Promotioa* 21 22 35 37 Draw 2000-09-13 WINNERS 57 PRIZE $ 175.44 *Only the selections participating in both Lotto 6/49 and Québec 49 on the same ticket are eligible to the promotion.Draw 2000-09-13 767422 $ 100,000 Gambling should remain a game.Claims: See back of tickets.In the event of discrepancy between this list and the official winning list of L-Q, the latter shall prevail.TVA, the network of draws Weather Today.Rain.High near 17.Winds easterly 15 to 30 km/h.Saturday.Intermittent rain.Low near 14.High near 16.Probability of precipitation 80 per cent.Sunday.Mostly cloudy with chance of showers.Low near 9.High near 15.Probability of precipitation 30 per cent.Monday.Variable cloudiness.Low near 6.High near 16.Weekly review of crime and accidents By Karen Eryou Special to The Record Sept.12 • An accident was reported on Autoroute 10 in Fleurimont.The car caught fire, but no injuries were reported.• An accident was reported at kilometre 118 on Autoroute 10 in Magog.• A car was seized on Autoroute 10 in Eastman - the driver did not have insurance on his vehicle.• A shed was broken into on Chemin Sylvestre in South Stukely.Tools and a generator were stolen.• The Coaticook QPF said a home was broken into on Chemin Provencher in Barn-ston West.The homeowner was still making a list of the stolen goods.Sept.11 • An accident was reported on Highway 410 in Sherbrooke.Sept.10 • A large shed was destroyed by fire on Chemin Lippe Nord, in Ste-Her-ménégilde.According to the QPF, the loss is estimated at $10,000 including the equipment that was stored inside.The police believe the fire was started as a result of an improperly extinguished fire that the homeowner had previously that evening.The owner told police he believed he had extinguished the embers - but as he awoke during the night, he saw his shed in flames.•In St-Venant-de-Paquette a small building that had been abandoned for some time was being used as a drying area for marijuana plants.The QPF seized the marijuana t found on the premises.• An accident involving a four-wheeler and a pick-up truck took place on Chemin du Ruisseau Ball in Bamston West The driver of the four-wheeler was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.His friend who was following him on another four-wheeler was on pro-bation and did not have the authority to be driving.The QPF officers who were at the scene took him into custody.• An accident was reported on Chemin de Compton in Compton.The QPF said there were no injuries as a result of the singleear accident • An accident was reported on Autoroute 10 in Shefford Township.The driver had his car seized as a result of not having insurance on the vehicle.• An abandoned car was recovered on Chemin Lève illé in Hatley Township.Further investigation showed the car had earlier been reported stolen.• A car was stolen on Chemin Robert Savage in South Stukely.• A three-wheeler was stolen from a garage on Highway 141 in Ayer’s Cliff.• An accident was reported at the intersection of Main and Taylor Streets in Ayer’s Cliff.The accident was listed as a hit-and-run.• A wood splitter was stolen from Chemin Tomifobia in Ogden.Sept.9 • A suspected drunk driver was intercepted on Highway 147 in Compton.• An accident with a deer was reported on Highway 143 in Compton Station.• Marijuana plants growing illegally on Chemin Kingscroft in Bamston West were chopped down, and another small harvest of marijuana plants on Chemin Corey, in Barnston West were cut down.• A robbery was reported on Chemin Galvin in South Bolton.Approximately $1500 worth of items were stolen from this cottage.Entry was gained by forcing open a back door.• An accident was reported on Chemin Riverside in Stanstead.Sept.8 • Coaticook QPF reported an accident involving a car and a deer on Highway 141 in Dixville.• A driver lost control of his car on Chemin Pouliot in Compton.Friend of the Family r : 8, .' ' , Cv/^.-î v> m ¦ - M V,-"'-.J ' :•< VVK iVxt.,M t'k'wi w - W wt .: ¦ -’tm COURTESY DAVE SAVAGE Sherbrooke’s Zellers store joined their 328 sister stores across Canada in donating $500 to Séjour la Bonne Ouevre, a local group which provides assistance to women and families.Pictured receiving a cheque from Pierre Bouchard manager of Sherbrooke,s Zellers store are Florence Maheu and Jacqueline Bélanger of Séjour La Bonne Oeuvre.Zellers Canada plans to make the gesture to help organizations assisting women and families each year for the next three.Ben by Daniel Shelton ^ BE SURE TO LOCK THE I POORS, PEAR.A NEIGHBORS I HOUSE UP THE STREET WAS ¦^BROKEN INTO LAST WEEK.' T CHECK THE SMOKE ALARM BEFORE COMING TO &EP .JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIPE OH, ANP TAKE „ A LOOK AT THE PUMP IN THE BASEMENT-WE’RE EXPECTING A LOT OF RAIN ANP PONT WANT ANV j— ft rrfDiwr./ GOOP NIGHT PEAR SWEET PREAMS »THEi» Record Friday, September 15, 2000 page 3 Domtar dust harmless in small quantities: doctor ; ' Powder ate paint off cars By Shawn Berry Windsor Officials from the Ministère de l’environnement and the Régie régionale de la santé et des services sociaux de l’Estrie told Windsor residents they have nothing to fear from the dust that has fallen on their town four times in the last month due to accidental emissions at the Domtar plant - as long as it is in small quantities.Dr Louise Galarneau from the Régie régionale told the approximately 200 residents who gathered at Salle du Bel Âge on Wednesday night that the “powder is like anything else - it has to be in a large quantity or concentration to have an effect.” She also noted that it could effect “the very susceptible.” The powder may irritate existing medical conditions, but Galarneau said it is not known to cause cancer and she said washing vegetables grown in an outdoor garden would be enough to negate any possible danger.“There is no danger in these concentrations,” explained Jean-Pierre Pelé, a biochemist with the environment ministry.Tests conducted by technicians from the environment ministry, he revealed, contained sodium sulfate with potassium, sodium carbonate with potassium and sodium chloride.The chemicals, he said, combine to form a FKKKÏ BtAlUINfSetUAL Jean-Pierre Pelé, a biochemist with the environment ministry said powder was not a danger in small quantities salt with a pH balance of 10.6, rendering it neutral; it is neither an acid nor an alkaline.Most of those in attendance at the meeting were concerned about the possible effects to their health and the material effect to the paint on their cars.One man told the officials from Domtar that he had taken his car to a Sherbrooke assessment centre so they could look at the paint on his car.“They told me that mine was the first one they had seen like it,” he told them.“That’s what they told me, too,” another man interjected before a dozen others noted that they too had met with a similar response.In some cases, the powder embeds itself in the protective layer of paint on a car, causing damage.PierreTrudel, Domtar’s vice president at the Windsor plant, said he would look into the matter and consider finding other experts if the current ones are not doing their Pierre Trudel, Domtar’s vice president at the Windsor plant says company has spent $4 million on damages.jobs properly.The company is willing to rectify any problems which stemmed from the four incidents at the plant, said Trudel.The most recent breakdown occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning.Domtar has already spent almost $4 million repairing damages caused by the dust which was emitted.Trudel said the company is working to ensure such accidental emissions don’t happen again.“We can’t say that it will never happen again,” he said, but added, “we have a team to find the causes and definitively solve the problem.” The company spends around $75 million a year to maintain the Windsor paper factory.Still no explanation for dead birds in Windsor By Shawn Berry Windsor Provincial officials say there is no reason to believe that either West Nile Virus or the powder that fell on the town of Windsor had anything to do with the discovery of 26 dead grack-le last week.“There is no link, we are patiently awaiting the results,” Dr.Louise Galarneau of the Régie régionale de la santé et des services sociaux de l’Estrie said Wednesday night.Galarneau said the findings from the accidental emissions at Domtar have not been forwarded yet to the Centre québécois sur la santé des animaux sauvages at the Uni- versity of Montreal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Ste-Hyacinthe.The 26 birds are being examined there to determine the cause of death.Paul Jeannotte, a spokesman for the Société de la faune du Québec, said the birds are currently being tested to determine whether they were poisoned.“They are doing tests on the birds’ livers,” he said.Both bacteriological and biological tests, Jeannotte said, came up with nothing, so they are now conducting toxicology tests.Conservation officials were originally concerned that the 26 birds had died from West Nile Virus.West Nile Virus On the heels of last week’s discovery of 26 dead birds in Windsor, the Quebec government announced earlier this week that it will be stepping up surveillance for West Nile Virus.Particular attention will be paid to dead birds to determine whether the virus has progressed into Canada.The geographic progression of the virus, into the northern states of the United States, prompted the intensification of efforts to track the disease.Eight people in New York state have been diagnosed with the encephalitis causing disease that killed seven seniors in New York City last year.En- cephalitis causes a swelling of the brain which can be fatal to the very young or the very old.Over 135 autopsies have been performed on dead birds found in Quebec this summer.About 430 blood tests from sentinel chickens, which are living in boxes along the border, have also been carried out at the Centre québécois sur la santé des animaux sauvages.Neither the autopsies, nor the blood tests, have turned up any trace of West Nile Virus in Quebec.The virus has not been detected anywhere else in Canada.• Anyone who notices a dead bird should notify game wardens of its whereabouts by calling 1-800-463-2191.n it The Record wants to hear from you.If you have an interesting story idea, hot news tip or know of a special happening in your area, call the newsroom at % Dennis dezos CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT ‘‘We add value to your business'1 Tel 819-823-0800 Lennoxville VERGER R.M.FERLAND 380 Chemin de la Station, Compton, Que.*LOBCr i PLUMS I “JERSEY MAC” “SUMMER RED" “PAULARED” %OBO* “SAVIQNAC" PEARS PLUMS (819) 835-5762 page 4 Friday, September 15, 2000 THEm Record ‘It is important to stay out there on the front lines’ Keith-Ryan: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Keith-Ryan said some things at the organization haven’t changed much in the last decade, like the need for being a visible part of the community.“It is important to stay out there on the front lines,” she said.“We have to find people to be visible for the English community, to sit on boards for various boards and associations.” The incoming president says she has a lot of confidence in the Township-pers’ board of directors’ ability to bring her up to speed on various issues.She said she will have to meet with them before determining what the main challenges of the year ahead will be.“I think I have a few things people have talked to me about that I would like to bring to the board," she said.Estates General One event demanding the attention of the anglo rights lobby group in the coming year will be the Estates General on Language.Keith-Ryan said she had already planned to make a presentation at the public hearings before the decision was made to take over Town-shippers’ once again.“We will certainly be encouraging public participation in the Estates General,” she said.The announcement of who would take over from outgoing president Gary Richards came just two days before the annual general meeting of the Townshippers’ Association, which will be held tonight at St-Félix-de-Kingsey.In the past, the news was usually made public weeks before Townshippers’ Day and the annual meeting.“The task of running Townshippers’ has become very demanding,” said Richards.“We’ve been trying to come to grips with finding exactly the right person.It’s not that easy.” Keith-Ryan downplayed the last-minute aspect of her appointment.“It’s good in a way because those people who have worked so hard to bring Townshippers’ Day to St-Félix-de-Kingsey have been given more atten- CAREER TECHNICAL INDUSTRIAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FMC Corporation, an international company meeting the needs of agriculture and industry, is seeking a full time Technical Service Representative to be located in or near the Montreal area.The position involves servicing sterilization equipment within an approximate 300 km radius of Montreal, Quebec, as well as in parts of Southern Ontario.The applicant must have good mechanical skills to perform testing, troubleshooting, training and installation assistance for food processing equipment systems at customer sites.Knowledge of industrial control systems and related test equipment including PLC’s, PC’s, loop controllers, control valves, level probes, flow metres, RTD’s is necessary.Occasional travel to various customer sites outside North America required.Proficiency in both English and French languages essential.Fax resume to FMC Food Tech, Attn.11R - Service Tech (559) 673-4913.No phone calls please.•FMC FMC CORPORATION 2300 Industrial Ave., Box A, Madera, CA 93639 FMC MAURICE CROSSFIELD Back in the saddle.Heather Keith-Ryan will be the new president of the Townshippers Association, a position she held a dozen years ago.tion,” she said, noting that volunteers are the cornerstone of the organization.“Maybe that’s the way it should be, that the new president is only unveiled towards the end, so that the volunteers get their just due.” ‘Quintessential Townshipper’ Outgoing president Richards said he was delighted with Keith-Ryan’s appointment, calling her a “.quintessential Townshipper.” “One of the biggest challenges I faced in my two-year mandate was helping forge the Quebec Community Group Network,” he said.“When I look around the table at all the players there, Heather has exactly the right background and leadership strengths to represent Townshippers’.” A little advice from the old president to the new?“Don’t react too quickly, like I tended to,” Richards said, referring to his knack for raising the level of controversy on some issues.Richards is however unrepentant.“I personally feel I was right in all of the positions I took.I believe very strongly in the French fact of Quebec.The more anglophones take possession of their place in Quebec society, the more voices we will have to make changes.” And the mutual respect between anglophones and francophones is typified in the Townshippers’ Association, and its annual celebration of life in the region, he said.“If any organization is representative of Quebec life, it is the Townshippers’,” Richards said.Richards’ replacement is a 60-year-old real estate agent, former town councillor, published author and mother of five who calls Potton Township home, also ran a bed and breakfast at one time.Two of her sons also live in the Eastern Townships, and she says watching her grandchildren grow up is giving her a perspective on the challenges facing the region’s young people.“It’s nice that they’ve been able to stay here and work here,” she said.Her seventh grandchild is due in December.Keith-Ryan said she has a combination of time and energy that should serve her well in the coming year.“When you raise five children you need to have a lot of energy,” she said.“I’m sure Townshippers’ will find lots for me to do.” ¦ THE» RECORD Friday, September 15, 2000 page 5 Toughen controls on waste imports: environmentalists PERRY BEATON/SPECIAL Groups and politicians raise red flag about increasing imports of hazardous wastes.9j \f- \ Industry invited to draft new regulations By Rita Legault Sherbrooke Canada and Quebec must have environmental legislation that is the same or stronger than laws in the United States or the province will become a dumping ground for toxic American waste, declared a number of local ecologists, consumer advocates, union representatives and politicians on Thursday afternoon.But rather than strengthening rules and regulations, upper levels of government are softening and scrapping legislative controls in a variety of areas including the transport, storage and treatment of hazardous waste.Disposing of untreated hazardous waste in the U.S.has been illegal since 1994 - the year that imports of such materials to Canada increased significantly, say ecologists.Meanwhile provincial and federal controls in Canada have been significantly loosened.Imports of hazardous waste from the United States have gone up 500 per cent since 1991 while inspections have gone down.Of the 17,000 truckloads of toxic waste imported from the U.S.in 1997, only 15 were inspected.With the Townships located along the border, much of the hazardous waste is transported though the region en route to other destinations.“It’s harder to send dangerous waste to Africa than to bring it into Quebec,” complained Pierre Morency, a member of the regional environmental council.“Right now, with our lax rules and low dollar, we have the ideal conditions to become the dumping site for dangerous waste.From an environmental standpoint, we are quickly becoming the Third World.” The Conseil Regional de l’environnement de TEstrie hosted a press conference for a number of individuals and groups denouncing growing ecological deregulation after a recent call for tenders by the federal environment ministry which sought bids from private companies interested in a variety of contracts including one to draft possible changes to regulations controlling the import and export of toxic PCBs.Morency, who came upon one of the tenders on the Internet said he cannot believe the government would abdicate its responsibilities in environmental matters and warned of the dangers of letting private enterprise regulate itself.Morency, who led a widespread coalition to stop imports of U.S.garbage more than a decade ago, said he is sick and tired of cleaning up the messes caused by imprudent politicians acting in favour of industrial and economic lobbies.“Rather than putting out fires, why don’t we find and stop the pyro-maniacs,” he said.Bloc Québécois MP Serge Cardin, who denounced the federal government’s abdication of such serious responsibilities, suggested that rather than importing toxic waste to be treated here, Canadians should export the technology so those who produce hazardous materials can deal with what they create.“When we produce the waste, we have a responsibility to take care of if but when it comes from elsewhere, we must put strict restrictions on it - stricter rules than for our own waste,” he said, adding that because of the permanent nature of the environment, it must remain a government responsibility.Ascot Mayor Robert Pouliof who also represented the provincial union of municipalities, said the provincial government could better control the flow of hazardous waste and called upon Quebec to set rigorous controls on the import, transport, recycling and treatment of dangerous waste.“The quality of life of current and future generations depend on avoiding an unfortunate incident that could create irreparable damage,” he said.“The Unions des Municipalités du Québec wants the government to act to eliminate those risks.” Consumer advocate Alain Robert from ACEF-Estrie said this is yet another example of both the federal and provincial government’s deregulation process, which is now referred to as lightening the rules.But Robert said environmental rules must not only be tough, they must also be strictly applied to ensure the protection of citizens.“Once we have a hazardous mess on our hands, it’s hard to clean up.” Plans to lower Brompton Lake raises concerns Meeting scheduled to discuss impact next Tuesday By Rita Legault Sherbrooke Ecologists and residents along the shores of Brompton Lake are concerned about a decision by the provincial Environment Ministry to lower the level of Lake Brompton for an undetermined amount of time.Environment Quebec is planning the measure to ensure the Bombardier dam in St-Denis-de-Brompton, which is in a terrible state of disrepair, does not give way under the pressure of the dammed water.Environment officials are planning to meet with residents on Tuesday evening to discuss lowering water levels and the potential impact on the ecology of the lake and the Brompton Bog, on residents who get their water supply directly from the lake, and on recreational activities.Environment ministry spokeswoman Hélène Beauchesne said that hydraulic experts from Quebec City have determined that the dam, which was built by J.-Armand Bombardier in the 1940s and repaired in the 70s, is in bad shape and needs to be repaired or replaced.In the meantime, they must ensure no water passes over the damaged dam.Beauchesne said the lake is about two centimeters lower than last year.The plan is to lower it by an additional 45 to 60 centimeters - about two feet.Biologist Daniel Bergeron disagrees with environment ministry estimates about the current height of the lake.“That astounds me,” he said, adding that according to his observations and those of longtime residents, the lake is at an all time low.“They have never seen it so low,” he said, adding that irises that were planted along the shoreline last fall are now on dry ground.Bergeron, an environmental activist who is the head of the Association Please see Bog page ll QUEBEC SAVINGS FLEXI'PLUS www.placomentsqc.goijv.qc.ca Placements Québec.The answer to all your investment needs.Want access to your money PLUS great returns?Placements Québec Flexi-Plus Savings offers you the best of both worlds to manage your savings efficiently.You have access to your funds any time, plus, you enjoy an attractive interest rate, that varies with the market and rises with the amount accumulated.Your invested capital is also guaranteed without limit by the Québec government.For a well-informed answer, contact one of our investment officers, Monday through Friday, from 8 a m.to 8 p.m.1 800 463-5229 For the Québec City region, call 521-5229.QuébecEE Placements Québec page 6 Friday, September 15, 2000 THE Record Will he or won’t he?Now that the PC and Canadian Alliance leaders are both Members of Parliament, will Jean Chrétien call a fall election or wait for spring?This is the kind of question pundits play with before elections to fill in dull moments.Volunteers can do the same, of course, and for what’s it’s worth, here’s what my crystal ball tells me.Not that the suspense Healy creates is any threat to anyone, but my short answer is that he’ll wait.Anyone who insists on knowing how I come up with that vision can read on and the rest - the wise - can ignore what follows, for political predictions offered free are usually worth the price, like weather forecasts.Imagine for a moment what you might consider if the call were yours to make.The Chrétien Liberals are in power with a majority of Commons seats not because an actual majority of Canadian voters want them there, but because those who don’t are so divided they can’t gang up on them.With five parties in the House, it doesn’t take a terribly strong government to hold onto power and that’s why the Liberals are all but sure of doing just that at least one more time around.Now let’s ask what the Liberals’ surest way of hanging on, i.e.keeping the opposition divided, might be.Would it be to their advantage, for example, to see the Conservatives fold?Would it help the Liberals if the PCs were to merge with the so-called Alliance - and create a real alliance?Hardly.If the PCs can be kept alive but weak, they will continue to share voters with others ‘on the right’, keeping them weaker than they would otherwise be.Sound cynical?Of course, but politics is a cynic’s game.Why do you think the Liberals didn’t run anyone against either Stockwell Day or Joe Clark?Why do you think - other than that Day is aggressive and lacking in sporting spirit - Day’s party ran a candidate against Joe in Nova Scotia even though the PCs didn’t oppose the Alliance in BC?Obviously, the Liberals want the PCs to survive and the Alliance wants the PCs dead - both for their own reasons.We can dismiss the NDP for the purposes of this argument because that party campaigns on the left, not the right, and not very effectively.We can’t do that with the Bloc Québécois, however, even if they don’t fit the normal left-right slots, for Bloc voters are being aggressively courted by the new kid on the block.And again, that suits the Liberals just fine.Not only does it make the Alliance fair game for pot shots, if it drains off even a few Bloc votes, it splits the opposition, no matter what the colour.I hope Lionel Albert won’t mind if I cite a scenario he wrote recently for the Edmonton Journal, in which he pointed out that in several Quebec ridings, the Bloc would have to lose only a small number of votes to the Alliance to let the Liberals pick up seats now held by the separatists.The Alliance, therefore, may very well prove to be a greater problem for Quebecers they are trying to court than for Quebecers they want to defeat.In other words, Stockwell Day and Company might actually help Jean Chrétien and his cohorts increase their claim to Quebec seats in Ottawa.Now wouldn’t that be fun! Picture the headlines.Whiz kid Opposition leader helps Prime Minister renew bis lease at 24 Sussex Drive! So there you have it.As I see it, Jean Chrétien would be better to give the newly-elected leaders time to get their feet planted and their dislike for each other refined than look as if he’s taking advantage of their predicament as new-comers and strike right away.And I’m certain the PM can’t wait for my advice.Viewpoint Don Healy THE P.0.Box 1200 Sherbrooke J1H 5L6 or 1195 Galt B, Sherbrooke jlG 1Y7 Fax: 819-369-3945 e-mail: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com VVEBsr; I : www.sherbrookerecord.com Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Sunil Mahtani Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Richard Lessard Prod Mgr.(819) 569-9931 Serge Gacnon Chief Pressman .(819) 569-9931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 569-4856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)5699511 Advertising.(819)5699525 Circulation.(819)5699528 Newsroom .(819) 5696345 Knowlton office 88 Lakeside, Knowlton, Quebec, JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242-1188 Fax: (450) 243-51S5 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 114.40 8.01 9.18 $131.59 6 MONTHS 59.00 4.13 4.73 S67.86 3 MONTHS 30.00 2.10 2.41 S34.51 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 7.1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by UniMedia Company, a subsidiary of Hollinger Canadian Newspapers L.P.Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675.Member ABC, CARD.CNA, QCNA (jmm EMTioN- who vwrsjk> ee aIB/d ooo aice CAN YOU \wwrt m Q.WHAT IS THE CRASH YOU JUST HEARD ?B.A BRICK A.A ROCK D.THE LOONIE ItfcUW cl' 41 ihanghomf .com Letters to the editor MS Scoiety needs your help As president of the Multiple Sclerosis Branch 2000, I would like to lay our cards on the table.We are on the road to exit if we cannot find help.We have achieved so very much but 1 don’t think the public is aware of what they will lose.There may never be another English chartered nonprofit association again; we just slipped through the system.We are under the $500 mark in funds left.With money raised so far, we have established a complete, well-equipped and organized office that is very adequate.Our Internet service at the office is free to all members and their families seeking information Tuesday to Friday from 1 to 5 p.m.You can contact us now at m.s.angels@videotron.ca We have conducted visits to our members in hospitals and in homes.If we’ve missed some, let us know.We have an MS Buddy System, where each MSer has someone to talk to, someone to listen to, a shoulder to cry on or to give nudge or two.We have provided regular support meetings the last Tuesday of each month.The next is from 1:30 to 3:30 in the basement of the Lennoxville United Church.We put on quite an impressive walkathon, the first of its kind, with an obstacle course giving non-MSers an idea what MS is like.We are in close contact with the MS Research Department in Fleuri-mont concerning all programs and the rehabilitation centre.We have done the impossible up to now.We have proven that we could and our hearts out do more.Don't let our plea fall on deaf ears.Come visit the MS Turtle Booth on our Townshippers’ Day Saturday thel6th at St.Felix de Kingsey in the Community Hall.Just think if every adult gave but just one dollar,you can make a difference.Our donation box at the Ayer’s Cliff Fair brought in a thankful $527.Along with our balance we are in business until the end of October 2000.Please keep your MS branch going Without your help we will not make it! Monthly cost of September brought us back to under $500 -again But thanks to you we are still on the map.Operation of office is a $300 minimum monthly to get by until hopefully a grant will be available for us.This year we have more than crafts, we have two-pound surprise bags for children 0 - 12 years old at $1.each.Find the coupons in the bags and win a lovely stuffed animal.Quantity is limited.(We are in need of all small toys for our fund-raisers.in good condition).Lee Aulis Sherbrooke See next page for more letters > ' » Friday, September 15, 2000 page 7 ¦¦THE — Record More Letters to the Editor Lennoxville town councillors defend actions Dear Editor, The troubles at the Town Hall, unfortunately, date back to the beginning of this mandate.After nearly three years of trying to initiate needed changes without success, the majority of councillors decided to go public as a last resort.The attempt to set the record straight continues.Lennoxville’s town council recently set up a committee to look at possible alternative structures, given the impending resignation of the Town Manager and given the data that documents that Lennoxville’s manage ment is “overpaid and overstaffed.” Tire Mayor refused to participate in the committee, preferring to make his case in the newspapers.He has publicly stated again and again that he was only interested in maintaining the present town structure - no matter what anyone (council, consultant, UMQ, or evidence) said.And late last week it became apparent that he was going to bring a resolution forward to immediately begin the process of hiring a Town Manager through headhunters, by-passing the working committee and thus any prior council deliberation.This has been his usual method of operating.Thus a published statement that Mayor MacAuley’s advice was “to hire consultants to determine exactly what is best for town hall” is precisely the opposite of what he was attempting to do.In fact, he was trying to lock in once more a municipal structure about which we have grave and well-founded doubts.If his motion had passed, Lennoxville residents would have lost their last and best opportunity to rethink how the town is managed.Readers who want accurate information about motions presented to council might read Lennoxville’s official agenda.We councillors could have said ‘Yes”, to Mayor MacAuley’s motion.We feel sincerely that such approval would have been highly irresponsible to the citizenry.We could have simply said “No”, and left it at that, with no alternative to suggest.Instead, given the very little time the Mayor left us, we thought a possible temporary solution would be for the town council to appoint M.Ostiguy as interim Town Manager and Treasurer and to arrange any temporary support he needed to do the job.This of course could well have included consultancy contracts.An alternative structure could then be decided in a less hurried and crisis-rid- den atmosphere.In other words, it was the council, NOT the Mayor, which was proposing on Monday night to spend some time to “determine exactly what is best for town hall”! Clearly, to bring this forward for a vote without sounding out M.Ostiguy’s reaction to such a proposal would have been stupid.So Mme.St-Vincent was deputized to consult with M.Ostiguy; Mr.Henson also discussed the proposal with him.There was never an offer of any job which was not contingent on a council vote; M.Ostiguy was also informed that the Mayor would likely be opposed.Granted this was not ideal, but given the emergency created by the Mayor’s motion to immediately fill M.Gagnon’s post, it still seemed to be the best short-term solution for citizens, for the town employees, and indeed, if he could only see it, for an overburdened Mayor.All this has been painted, at least in one instance, as a power-grab, and motivated by revenge.We have been criticized for wanting exactly the opposite of what in fact we tried to achieve.Mayor MacAuley has been praised for suggesting exactly the opposite policy from the one he actually presented on Monday evening.In fact, he has refused to participate in forums established to discuss alternatives, and states that he wants a Town Manager no matter what.We are grateful to the Record for taking the time to do the digging and research which uncovered some of the issues, (and there are many others) which might help citizens understand the reasons for the present crisis at Lennoxville’s town hall.Resisting the temptation to go for the jugular without examining all the facts is to be commended.Does it not cross anyone’s mind that when five councillors vote time after time against the mayor, that the majority vote might just be based on sound reasons?But that the need for discretion prevents these reasons being splashed all over the newspapers?Edward Henson Danielle St-Vincent Robert Passmore Ivy Pankovitch Lennoxville What are Diane St-Jacques’ real political colours?Dear Editor To Don Macpherson and Sharon McCully, Don Macpherson (The Gazette, Sept.14) says of Diane Saint-Jacques, ‘the Bloc Québécois (of which she was a registered member before her election as a Conservative in 1997)’.Sharon McCully (The Record, Sept 13) says of the same lady at the same point in time, ‘Poke [her] and [she] bled Tory-blue through and through.’ Which one is right?Lionel Albert Knowlton Editor’s Note: Both.Ms.St-Jacques appears to be politically pliable.She voted in the Canadian Alliance leadership race for Preston Manning after re ceiving a membership card in the name of Margaret McDougall, and admits she also had a Bloc Québécois membership card for several years which was also ‘mistakenly’ sent to her.She sat in the House as a Conservative MP, and is now a Liberal.Many to thank for fair’s success Dear Editor, We wish to express our deepest appreciation to each and every person who has contributed to the great success of the Ayer’s Cliff Fair.Our directors who are so proud, devoted, and work so hard, those who work at the gates, in the parking lot, the people who kept the grounds and washrooms so clean, Pinkerton Security for an excellent job, PLAV Audio for the fantastic sound system, D.D.T.Electrique for maintaining the power, and the vice presidents who give 100 percent to the job, Winnie Mosher for all she continues to do, and of course Beatrice Juby, Gwen MacLeod, and Richard and Denise Eryou for the office help.Special thanks to Hank Stremme-laar and Ronnie Knapp for their medical assistance, Gaston Auger for the terrific entertainment he brings and all the wonderful people who attended from far and near, the wonderful council and people of Ayer’s Cliff for their understanding and cooperation, and last but not least the exhibitors who are important to our survival.We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the board of directors at Cookshire, Richmond and Brome Fair for their success.President George Knapp Sec.- Treas.Janie Webster CAREER ® Champlain Regional College LENNOXVILLE • ST.LAMBERT • ST.LAWRENCE COORDINATOR OF INSTITUTIONAL SELF-EVALUATION Eighteen (18) month full-time contract at the college’a administrative offices in Sherbrooke, with the possibility of extension Cbamplaii Regioeal College is a public English-language educational institution composed of administrative offices in Sherbrooke and three campuses: Champlain-Lennoxville in Lennoxville, Champlain-St.Lambert in St.Lambert and Champlain-St.Lawrence in the Quebec City area.The incumbent will be working in close cooperation with a college-wide team comprising senior managers under the supervision of the Director General, and will be responsible for the planning, implementation and writing of an institutional Self-Evaluation process for Champlain Regional College that will result in the preparation of a final report to be presented to the Commission d'évaluation de l'enseignement collégial ICEEC! in the year 2001-2002 QUALIFICATIONS Emcotni Masters Degree in Education or the equivalent Eirauntf Experience in institutional analysis and program evaluation, strategic planning and policy writing, preferably in the Education milieu Onn Must possess superior communication skills and advanced writing skills in English and have working knowledge of French Must demonstrate an ability to work with teams Must possess excellent computer skills Amiumni: Please submit your résumé in confidence, no later than Tkartiay, September 21,20H, to: Gerald T.Cutting Director General CHAMPLAIN REGIONAL COLLEGE P.O.Box 5000 Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N1 Fax; (819J 564-3639 E-mail: gtnittingGabaeom.com Oelytaadtideettlectei feres ietereieuadSke page 8 Friday, September 15, 2000 ¦¦ THE— i Record i.-" i : ., ¦ ¦ ¦ .UTTÏiTOtT Experiment could help launch space careers For a group of budding rocket scientists at the University of Sherbrooke, the sky’s the limit By René Bruemmer Sherbrooke A group of Sherbrooke University engineering students with lofty goals have set their sights on the Final frontier.The fledgling rocket scientists have spent the last two years designing a rocket with an innovative fuel system they hope may one day serve as an efficient and relatively inexpensive method of launching satellites into space.Proposed by professor Martin Brouil-lette, who has worked on similar technologies in the U.S., the project involves 14 mechanical and electrical engineering students working for class credit.They say they’re not aware of any other Canadian university with a comparable program.The only similar undertaking they’re aware of in the States is taking place at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.“It has been an incredible learning experience so far,” student Larry Lebel said.“When you think of it, when we started out, we didn’t know much more about the science than you do now.” From humble beginnings as first-year students with little experience in explosive projectile motion, the group has graduated to the realm of experienced rocket engineers, with two successful launches of 10-foot-long prototypes, 2.3 kilometres into the air.Their ultimate mission is to send a 22-foot rocket dubbed icAre, after the mythological figure Icarus who flew too close to the sun on waxen wings, 50 kilometres up in the northern and secluded confines of Churchill, Manitoba early next year.Unlike Icarus, however, their version will be outfitted with a large parachute to soften its landing and exemplify its recyclable attributes.The project has evolved beyond its initial lab experiment beginnings.The students have embraced the ideal of space, and are contemplating staying together after graduation to market their knowledge.With more than 1,300 satellite launchings projected for the next decade alone, the elevated science experiment could take on a very practical, and marketable, nature.And a potentially profitable one, too.Students noted that the current cost of sending a satellite into space is around $10 million.The university has granted the students all rights to any knowledge they acquire, as compared to demanding the rights to patents sometimes required of professors performing university-funded research.“We’ve already received the six credits for our work on this project,” said group spokesman Frédéric Villeneuve.Please see Rocket Page 10 CAREER OPPORTUNITY Frédéric Villeneuve and Larry Lebel demonstrate the inner workings of their rocket engine, which bums a combination of nitrous oxide and plastic to achieve thrust.A leap into the job market! How?Gain employability skills (job search techniques) Get the education you need Improve language skills Acquire some computer skills Explore your career options Who can sign up?• Adults receiving employment benefits or social assistance or without income • Others may be eligible You may also qualify for a training allowance, transportation allowance, and day-care fees, as well as no tuition fees.Call for more information PLUCES Mil LIMITED New Horizons Adult "Tremplin Project" : rt 0 ^ „ I .- wdUfci 'll»* Commission scolaire EASTERN TOWNSHIPS EASTERN TOWNSHIPS School Board